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Monday, December 22, 2014

Sorry for my lateless but so thrilled to be a part of the Happy Holidays Blog Hop !!!

I am giving away a Christmas Goodie Bag.

Rules are simple...1. Comment on this post (make sure to leave your email address)2. In your comment, share your favorite cookie for Christmas.3. Share a recipe of that cookie for an extra entry :)4. Make sure to hop to the other blogs too !! ******and for your reading pleasure, the first Novella in my series from Roane Publishing :)

Harper’s Wish

A Montana Series
Christmas Novella

Christmas is supposed to be a joyous
time of year, but for Harper Donaldson it’s just another day.Orphaned at an early age, she doesn’t have a
single good memory of Christmas.

But, when a
Santa’s Mailbox mysteriously appears in the lobby of the post office where she
works as postmistress, Harper wonders what it could hurt to send her own letter
to Santa.

“Why can’t one of these
letters have my name on it?” Harper sifted through the mail one piece at a
time, postmarking each envelope of blue, red and green. Funny how the holidays
brought out every color of the rainbow, which was precisely the reason her
special Santa stamp was black—so everyone could see it. As she inked each
letter, Harper absently read the names, wondering what great news the sender
was sharing with the receiver of their special once-a-year card. She’d started
a tradition of feeling sorry for herself because she knew there would be no
special cards for her. Harper didn’t even have a special somebody to spend the
holidays with. “Looks like I’ll die an old post- marm.”

“Oh, heavens child,
give yourself a break.” Harper jumped, scattering the stack of letters all over
the counter and floor.

“Good Lord, Elsie!
Couldn’t you warn me next time you sneak back in after hours away? You scared
me half out of my wits.” Elsie Whiddamore, a spry woman in her mid-sixties, was
born and raised in Holly. After losing her husband early on, she took over for
him at the post office, doing the job of Postmistress and raising her four
children as a single mom. With thirty-five years under her belt and retirement
knocking at the door, Elsie had hired Harper to take over as her replacement,
though she still came in a few days a week just to help pass the hours. The old
woman laughed as she approached the front counter.

“My dear, you need to
relax a little. You’re only twenty-four. Why be in such a hurry?”

“I just feel like an old spinster working here
at the post office.” When Elsie raised an eyebrow, Harper rephrased.

He could hear the tension in her voice. “Would you relax? Everything will go just fine.”

“I can’t relax, I know how small towns are. We show up together and everyone will know. Or think they do.”

Harper moved the iron cord aside and dug through her drawer in search of something, completely ignoring him. By God, she’s as stubborn as she is neurotic.

“Yep, that’s right. The whole town will know the horrible truth. Everyone will know I’m in love with the postmistress. Is that so bad?”

Harper stopped what she was doing and looked at him in her dresser mirror.

“What did you just say?”

“I said, is that so bad?”

She elbowed him in the ribs. “Not that, you oaf, the other part.” She was staring, eyebrows arched.

“Oh, you mean the part where I said I’m in love with you?” He took pleasure in the surprised look on her face. He’d happily spend a lifetime bringing out that same look. She turned to face him.

“You love me?” A brilliant light flashed in her eyes. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed. “I love you, too, Fin.” She leaned away a little. “I’m not really sure how it happened this fast, and without me really even realizing it until just now, but it feels right. Natural.”

“For me, too, sweetheart.” He hugged her tight and swatted her butt. “Now, you better get a move on or we’ll be late.” He ran down the hall to the shower, leaving her to smile after him.